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Simulation Lab and Clinical Learning Faculty Spotlight: Courtney McCauley 

At Galen College of Nursing, hands-on learning is at the heart of the student experience. No one understands that better than Courtney McCauley, Director of Simulation and Clinical Learning Laboratories. A Galen double alum with a deep passion for nursing education, McCauley has been a part of the college since 2020. She has steadily advanced in roles that enhance student learning through immersive simulation experiences. In this interview, she shares insights into what makes Galen’s simulation labs (sim lab) unique. She also explains how technology plays a vital role in nursing education and what she loves most about her work.

How long have you been working at Galen?

I have been an employee of Galen College of Nursing since October 2020. My career here began as a clinical learning lab and simulation faculty member. I moved into the role of clinical learning lab coordinator in 2023. Now, I am the director of simulation and clinical learning laboratories. I am also a Galen double alum, graduating with my LPN in 2008 and RN in 2010!

In your experience, why do Galen’s simulation labs give students a unique learning environment?  

The size and layout are just a few things that make the Galen sim lab experience unique. Our sim labs have six patient rooms, two nurses’ stations, and three control rooms. We also have six debriefing rooms, where most of the student’s time is spent. The patient rooms and nurses’ stations mimic a real hospital setting, including a working back wall. Which features working suction, oxygen, medical air, touch-screen patient monitors, IV pumps, and phones at the nurse’s station, among others. Other exciting features include:

Technology: All patient, debrief rooms, and nurses’ stations are equipped with cameras for control and debrief room observation.

Our high-fidelity simulators are also unique! The chest rises and falls during breathing, the pulses are located in anatomical locations throughout the body, the eyes blink, and the pupils dilate. These simulators can also change lung, heart, and bowel sounds. Faculty can communicate through the manikin as the patient, allowing students to have a real-time conversation with their simulated patient.

We have a well-trained simulation manager and all the faculty/staff; our facilitators continuously undergo training to stay updated on all things simulation.

Experienced simulation operations staff: they are the background of how simulation runs smoothly each day (setting up, tearing down, identifying, and helping with all technological needs).

All of the above-mentioned highlights of our simulation center make it terrific and unique for our students!  

How would you summarize your simulation lab job and what you do on the daily. Also, what is your favorite part of your job?

My main goal is to ensure my team has everything they need to be effective simulation facilitators, which ensures our students receive the best simulation experience possible and often includes providing the following:  proper training and pilots get scheduled and take place before the student’s experience, scheduling and staffing are done appropriately to make sure we have the right amount of faculty to facilitate each day, staying up to date on the needs of our mannikins and supplies needed to run the sim lab efficiently, performing annual evaluations and ensuring we are fully staffed, reviewing quarterly assessment to make improvements from student and faculty feedback and ensure simulations are mapped appropriately to achieve course student learning outcomes.

I am enthusiastic about developing and implementing simulation experiences that enhance the education of our students! Hearing positive feedback from our students regarding their simulation experiences and I always look forward to continuing to make improvements for both our faculty, staff and students.

From Simulation Lab Faculty Member to Director

From cutting-edge technology to realistic patient scenarios, Galen’s simulation labs provide students with an unparalleled learning environment that bridges the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world nursing practice. Under Courtney McCauley’s leadership, the simulation team continues to refine and expand these experiences, ensuring students graduate with confidence and hands-on skills. Their passion for education and commitment to innovation make them invaluable to the Galen community, shaping the next generation of nurses one simulation at a time.